Cottonwood Creek Charter

Tucked into the small, unhurried town of Cottonwood in Shasta County, this K-8 charter school punches well above its weight academically, with English and math scores landing in the top 10% statewide. Families who want a close-knit school community without sacrificing academic rigor — and who love the idea of raising kids in the rural foothills between Redding and Red Bluff — tend to find it a great fit. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your child's name, and the surrounding area offers an outdoor-oriented lifestyle that's hard to beat for families who value wide open spaces over city conveniences.